The Atlantic Coast Conference, always playing the ugly step-sister to the queen bee SEC, is in the spotlight with only its ninth top 10 game in its history. With the addition of Notre Dame in all sports but football and hockey announced two weeks ago, this is a game that will push an ACC team into the national title picture. Florida State has a defense reminiscent of Bobby Bowden’s best, packed with future NFL talent. I want to see how that defense and GameDay-juiced crowd does in stopping quarterback Tajh Boyd and receiver Sammy Watkins. FSU QB E.J. Manuel is no slouch, either.

No. 2 Louisiana State (3-0) at Auburn (1-2), 5 p.m.

My blood lust for coaches on the hot seat has me intrigued with this one. Auburn coach Gene Chizik is two seasons removed from a national title and one missed Louisiana-Monroe field goal in overtime last week from possibly the first 0-3 start since the 1950 team went 0-10. A loss here will still give the Tigers their first three-loss September in school history. Chizik is on the hottest seat in the country. Getting drilled at Mississippi State, 28-10, started it but the narrow win over Louisiana-Monroe escalated it. Here’s why: Three straight top 15 recruiting classes had Auburn fans thinking consistency.

No. 18 Michigan (2-1) at No. 11 Notre Dame (3-0), 5:30 p.m.

Look out folks, but Notre Dame is on the verge of greatness again. If went on the road and destroyed a talented Michigan State team and now gets another match-up against quarterback Denard Robinson who led the Wolverines over the Irish the last two years. Remember how bad Notre Dame’s defense was under Charlie Weis? It’s one of the nation’s best now and Michigan is the first of four straight home games (although Miami, Fla., Oct. 6 is in Chicago). Notre Dame could become a player again.

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